When the Irish whiskey distillers sponsored the first Jameson
Whiskey International Open in the autumn of 1981 it attracted what was for
those days, a huge field of 95 players to Derby’s
Assembly Rooms. The event was also memorable for a 9-0 whitewash in the final
of Dennis Taylor by Steve Davis. For 1982 it became the first tournament, apart
from the world championship, to be given world ranking status. For once the
favourites failed to make through and Tony Knowles beat David Taylor 9-6 in the
final.

Now established as the season’s opening ranking event with regular
TV coverage, The Jameson moved to Eldon
Square, Newcastle
for 1983 where Steve Davis collected the £24,000 winner’s cheque, beating Cliff
Thorburn 9-4 for his second title. He made it three in 1984 when, at the same
venue, he overcame Tony Knowles 9-2.

That marked the end of Jameson’s four-year sponsorship of the event
and for 1985 Barry Hearn’s Matchroom Group joined with cosmetics firm Goya to
provide the backing and it was renamed the Goya Matchroom Trophy. There was
also a new venue as the final stages were played at Trentham
Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent.
Cliff Thorburn took the title with a 12-10 victory over Jimmy White. The name
‘International’ was restored for 1986 with sponsorship from table
manufacturers, B.C.E. Cliff Thorburn got
to the final again but on this occasion it was Neal Foulds who beat him 12-9 to
collect his only ranking title.

Fidelity Unit Trusts began a two-year sponsorship in 1987 which saw
Cliff Thorburn in the final for a third successive year but he was on the
losing side again. Steve Davis won for a fourth time 12-5. Davis made it three in a row and six all with
final victories over Jimmy White 12-6 in 1988 and Stephen Hendry 9-4 in 1989
when B.C.E. returned to sponsor the event.

It was not held for the next two seasons but then it was restored
in 1992/93 with Sky Sports as the sponsors but now moved to the spring and
played at Plymouth Pavilions. Stephen Hendry took the title for the first time
with a 10-6 victory over Steve Davis. Another change of venue came in 1994 when
Bournemouth staged the tournament at the
International Centre. John Parrott was the victor on this occasion, 9-5 over
James Wattana.

Sweater Shop, who already backed many of the Cuemasters team of
players, stepped in as new sponsors for 1995 and 1996 and on both occasions
John Higgins was the champion. His final victim in the first of these was Steve
Davis who he beat 9-5 and in the second, Rod Lawler was the surprise finalist,
losing 9-3. The final staging of the event as the International, in 1997, was
at the Exhibition Centre in Aberdeen
with Highland Spring as the backers. This first ranking event to be held in Scotland was
won by Stephen Hendry who beat Tony Drago 9-1 in the final.

Having moved north of the border, the event was then renamed as the Scottish Open and continued at the Aberdeen venue with sponsorship from Regal.